Hexagon paper piecing

A few months ago I spotted The Liberty Book of Home Sewing for a bargain price in a local shop and couldn't resist. Its full of lots of gorgeous pictures of some of the classic Liberty prints and lots of inspiring projects - one of which uses traditional hexagon patchwork to make a cot quilt. I hadn't tried it before but was tempted as it a great way to use little scraps of fabric and show them off in a really beautiful way.

Then I had the opportunity to attend a paper piecing workshop with author Nikki Trench at the the Craft Hobby and Stitch show at the NEC in February. She was promoting her latest book, A Passion for Quilting,  and was sharing her paper piecing tricks and tips - and it got me hooked.

So, paper piecing is basically done by cutting out lots of paper hexagons..I just used normal paper..then temporarily stitching scraps of fabric to the paper, making sure you have enough of a seam allowance. You need a fair few hexagons to get you anywhere but I've made a good start with the liberty print scrap pack I recently bought.

Lots of colourful scraps

I've used a red thread to tack my fabric onto the paper so its easy to spot when I remove it later, once all the hexagons are stitched together. 

Once you have your fabric covered hexagons you then use a whip stitch to stitch all the hexagons together. First make up 'flowers' of 7 hexagons and then stitch your 'flowers' together. I couldn't resist making up one of the 'flowers' to see how it would turn out. The red taking stitches won't get taken out until the very end.

After attending the workshop with Nikki I used the sample I had made to make a pin cushion. Its done in exactly the same way but to create the width of the pin cushion I used little squares that were the same dimension as the length of one of the sides of the hexagons. Bit fiddly I got there eventually. I then used a self cover button for the centre to create more depth and shape. It also helps to make it look a bit more flower like. 

Its a nice way to use up scraps of a favourite fabric that you might otherwise throw away. Its also a good way to test the water the paper piecing instead of committing to a whole quilt. It does take a while so really is a labor of love.

Customised sobretto top by Colette

A few weeks ago I found, just by chance on my google reader, a link to a free pattern download from Colette for the Sorbretto top. It's quite a simple easy top made up from just two pattern pieces with a pleat down the front and endless opportunities for customising it to your own preferences.

I had a few fabrics that I've been wanting to make into vest type tops for a while but I couldn't find a pattern I wanted....until now.

Last week I completed my first top with a Liberty print fabric. I ended up only using about 60cm of the fabric (and the whole width of that) and made my own bias tape for the edging too from this tutorial (I would recommend that you made the tape a bit wider than it suggests though).

The modifications I made were:

• added an extra two darts at the front to make it more fitted
• brought the side seams in a bit to make it more fitted
• created a button opening down the back (so I could get it on and off, now that it was more fitted)
• lowered the neck line slightly
• lowered the seam under the arm (I think it was digging in a bit because I made the top more fitted)

Below is how much I took the side seam in

And these are the extra darts I added to the front either side of the pleat. 

 The front dart again, showing what size I made it. 

I you want to practise pattern manipulation to really make a top fit you well, I would recommend this one as  its pretty straight forward. I just kept trying the top on as I went along to make sure it was sitting the way I wanted. Also, always make sure that any changes you do make are symmetrical on each side or else the top won't sit right. Remember the download is free...so if you have any spare fabric around..which I'm sure a lot of you will...then there is no reason not to get started on one!

My 'research' trip to London

Never one to pass up an opportunity to visit the big smoke, I tagged along with the other half to London for a few days this week to get some business research done while he had to go to the office.

I think its really useful when starting a new business to see what else is going on out there and London is defiantly not short of haberdasheries, fabric stores, creative venues and generally cool funky places that have put thought and planning into their appearance, look and branding. So off I set to do some mystery shopping and some.....well.....just regular shopping too...and some amazing coffee drinking and delicious cupcake eating - it would be rude not to!

This coffee is seriously good stuff - Monmouth Coffee! Not to be missed if your in the Covent Garden area, in fact not to be missed at all - I went out my way twice to go here!  

Ahhh...the classic vanilla cupcake from the Hummingbird Bakery. I might have had a chocolate and mint one too - it was there daily special - like I said, rude not too! 

The colourful buildings on Portobello Road - gorgeous and bright in the sunshine! 

I love browsing a bit of the old stuff - I mean vintage..retro! 

So this is where all the old sewing machines go when they die - sewing machine heaven in All Saints, Notting hill. 

So other than eating, drinking and browsing, I did manage to find a few goodies to bring home. I went to the Stitch and Craft show too at the Olympia yesterday as well which was fun and picked up some things....and so my project list grows even longer (blog post to come on that next week!)

I found these gorgeous soft smooth leather off cuts....

 Which will turn into little snap frame purses with this little purse frame I also picked up. 

Ahhh...a girl can never have enough Liberty print. This will turn into a little summer top before too long. 

 I also topped up my stack of prints with this Liberty scrap pack from Ray Stitch, the plans for these little bits.....possibly some hexagon paper piecing. 

I've been looking forward to getting this Colette dress pattern for ages now and plan is to get started this weekend now that I have my fabric and buttons (both from Cloth House).

At the Stitch and Craft show I picked up two of these up cycled selvage yarns made from jersey fabric. There are pretty hefty and chunky and they will be turned into a crochet storage basket. 

 I can never pass by a bargain and these four colours of mini ric rac went together so lovely so I could't resist! 

Another bargain...7 little packets of buttons - all shapes and sizes which will be transformed into a bouquet of flowers as soon as I find some florist wire! 

So I'm going to be pretty busy this weekend then with all of this...and I've got a birthday to celebrate (not mine - the hubbys). Would love you to stay tuned for how all the projects turn out....

Little leather note book - with a splash of liberty print

Last year I went on a fantastic weekend book binding course with the very talented travelling book binder Rachel Hazell.

It was great fun and we learned lots of different ways to make books. This is a set of little mini books I made, all bound with different stitches. 

 I also made this larger concertina book as part of the course which I filled with little drawings and paintings inspired by my favourite songs. 

Putting my skills to the test I made a simple note book for my Mum last year using some leather I had, but since then I'm sorry to say I haven't been binding any books.  

So I decided to do something about it and made up this little note book, again using leather. I also decided to brighten it up on the inside with some Liberty print. Here is how I did it.....

I used an old spiral bound note book that I had for the pages of my new book - just had to trim off the bit that was in the spiral. Then I used my lovely bone folder to crease the pages in half. 

Next I cut out my leather cover with a strip to fasten it closed. I used bonda web to line the inside cover with a Liberty print. 

I then made the holes in the pages ready for being stitched together. 

Next I punched corresponding holes in the leather cover. 

Then using some strong top stitch thread I stitched the pages and cover together, using little wooden beads on the outside to bung up with holes that I made in the leather. 

Lastly I cut a slit in the front cover for my strip to slot into and keep the note book closed and snug in my bag. 

Here is the finished book.....

...and the gorgeous Liberty print on the inside. 

Stitched up - tea and strawberry jam on toast

I'm always looking for ways to use up all the bits and bobs I seem to have collected and I recently made a little felt needle case embellished with a stitched teacup. I'm also a bit of a sucker for mini kits and I've had this one to make a decorative jam lid for ages! So after finally getting round to finishing them off I wanted to share.... 

This really sweet strawberry jam top cover is designed by Bois Joli at SoCreaStitch

The teacup design is from the latest issue of Cross Stitcher magazine and is part of a large cushion cover design. I decided to pick my favourite one to embellish this needle case.

 The inside is lined with a scrap of liberty print. I love finding ways to use my liberty fabric, I'm loathed to even through out the littlest scraps!